This particular wreck occurred at the rocks called
Rumblegurr just across the bay, north from Downies and is still
remembered by a couple of local residents, in fact some of the flotsam
and jetsam that came ashore in the aftermath somehow found it’s way into
the care of some of those same said residents. I wonder what treasures
from this shipwreck may still be stashed away in the back of a shed or
in the attic of a house within a couple of hundred yards of where I stay
myself?

The Alirmay went ashore near Downies in dense fog in
September 1949, and the crew members at the time of this incident were
Alexander Pirie, junior, Aberdeen (skipper), David Watson, Aberdeen
(mate), William Simpson, Aberdeen (engineer), Alexander Gardiner,
Aberdeen (deckhand), James Thain, Lossiemouth (deckhand), and James
Legge, Findochty (cook).

Here, I’ve used a bit of artistic license and imagination
to recreate the scene leading up to and during the grounding of the
Alirmay near Downies and the words used are my own. For decency’s sake I
have left out the sweariest words that I’m sure would have been used
during this escapade.

Sirens are sounded, rockets are launched and one by one
the crew make it safely off the Alirmay onto the nearby rocks and after
having taken stock of themselves they start to make their way towards
the braes where they are helped up the steep slopes by some of the
villagers of Downies, who had began to congregate in the vicinity of the
wreck as the drama was unfolding.

The rest, as they say, is history. Thankfully everyone
lived to tell the tale and later show up for the subsequent inquiry to
have their knuckles well and truly wrapped by the Ministry of Transport!

The Alirmay lies wrecked on the rocks at
Rumblegurr, just north of Downies Village.